Soot blower



Oct. 17, 1933. SNOW 1,931,272

SOOT BLOWER Original Filed Sept. 10, 1928 .4 H J 4 0 15 Q2 '43. i 7 28 1 3 5 13 10 i s z .26

avwentoz Worm??? 4. 500

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics Application September ,10, 19 2s, Serial No. 305,050. Renewed November 14, 1932 10 Claims.' (01. 122+392) This invention relates to soot blowers and has particular reference to a soot blower or" the type having a movable blower element adapted to discharge cleaning fiuid adjacent the surfaces to be cleaned.

An object of this invention is to provide a sootblower in which the blower head is movable with the blower element and in which the blower head is directly connected to the source of cleaning fluid supply, whereby the danger of leakage of the cleaning fluid is decreased to a minimum.

A further object or this invention is to provide a soot blower in which alimited number. of nozzles are adapted to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent a relatively large number of surfaces to be cleaned whereby a relatively small element may be utilized for cleaning a large boiler or the like. l I

Other objects and advantages of this inven tion will become apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through a soot blower constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 of, Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Referring now particularly to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate cor-' responding parts throughout all views, there is illustrated a blower element 10 adapted to receive cleaning fluid from a supply pipe 11 through a head, designated generally by the reference character 12. The blower element 10 is provided with a plurality of discharge nozzles 13 for discharging cleaning fluid adjacent the surfaces to be cleaned and is adapted, in use, to be rotated or oscillated and to be moved longitudinally in order to cause the jets of cleaning fluid to be discharged adjacentspaced surfaces.

For the sake of illustration the blower element is shown as being mounted in a water tube boiler designated generally by thereference character 15. The boiler is shown as including theboiler wall 16 and the boiler tubes 17, the latter being spaced in accordance with the usual practice. The element 10 is shown as projecting from the head 12 through a wall box 18 mounted in the wall 16 of the boiler, the wall box 18 being provided with an opening 19 of suflicient size to permit the operation of the element as herein-.

after described.-

For sealing the space between the element 10 and opening 19 and for floating-the element 10 relative to the wall box 18, there is provided a plate 20 through which the element 10 passes, the plate 20 being provided with a boss 21 forming a bearing for theelem'ent 'lhe plate 20 is suse 30 pended from the wall box 19 by means of the studs 22- passing through the enlarged openings 23 formed in the plate 20. To prevent the plate 20 from pulling away from the; wall box as the element 10 is reciprocated, springs 24 are provided, thesesprings being sleeved on the studs 22 and bearing against the plate 20. Thus the plate 20 together with the element 10 isiioated relative to the wall box 18, while the element is mounted for rotation and reciprocation relative to the wall box. l I 7 As illustrated, the nozzles '13 are preferably spaced to correspond to alternate spaces between the rows of boiler tubes 17 and in operation the element 10 is preferably rotated or oscillated while the cleaning fluid is being dischargedifrom the nozzles 13 through alternate spaces between the rows of tubes and therelement 10 isthe'n advanced or retracted an increment corresponding to the spa'cingof the boiler tubes to the dotted position shownas 13' and again rotated or oscil lated to dischargecleaning fluid into these spaces. Obviously the increment of advance or retraction of the element may be increased or diminished to adapt the element for any desired. locationofth'e spaces to be cleaned and if desiredfewer discharge nozzles maybe provided, the element beingsuc cessively advanced a number of times to cause each nozzle to discharge cleaning fluid-through a plurality of spaces. In each case, however, the element 10 is adapted in operation to be both rotatedland longitudinally moved and the present invention contemplates in'particular the provi-l sion-of a novel type of blower head for facilitating thisv rotation and longitudinal movement of i the blower element.

The head 12 includes the goose neck .25 provided at its one end with the counter-bore 26 to ro- V journaled in the, counter bore 26 and in. order 1 to provide a fluid tight bearing at this point there may be provided the packing 28 and the packing jgland 29 as will be readilyapparent by reference to Figure 1 of the drawing.

For rotating or oscillating the element 10 in no l' 25 and may be supported at its other end in a bracket 41 secured as at 42 to the inner end of the horizontally arranged portion 27 of the goose neck 25. vThe bracket 41 may be provided with a bearing 43 for the element 10 and if desired there may be provided a thrust bearing 44 arranged between'the gear 35 and the bracket 41.

In operation, the sheave 39 may be rotated in any desired manner, as for example by' the chain 45, thus rotating the pinion 37, the gear 35 and the element 10. Thus the nozzles 13 will be swung to' discharge cleaning fluid between the tubes 17 and adjacent the surfaces to be cleaned to effect desired cleaning. 1

' As brought out before, it forms a feature of this invention-to connect the head 12 directly to the source of cleaning fiuid, wherebythe danger of leakage of the cleaningfluid is substantially eliminated. Further it forms a feature of this invention to permit movement of the head relative to the supply pipe so that the nozzles 13 may be aligned with the surfaces to be cleaned. In carrying out this feature of the invention, the supply pipe 11 is provided adjacent its upper end with a fitting 52 which may be of T-shape, being provided with the downwardly extending branch 53 adapted to be secured to the supply pipe 11 and being provided with the horizontally disposed aligned branches 54. The horizontally disposed portion 27 of the goose neck 25 is adapted to be slidably received within the branches 5 of the T-fitting 52 and is provided intermediate its ends with the circumferentially spaced ports 55 adapted to receive cleaning fluid the r from the chamber 56 within the fitting 52. For

forming a fiuid'tight joint between the fitting 52 and the goose neck 25, suitable packing 57 may .be held in position in the branches 54 as by the glands 58. 7

From the above, it will be apparent that cleaning fiuid supplied to the fitting 52 through the supply pipe'll, will flow into the chamber 56 from which it will flow to the goose neck 25 through the ports 55. The cleaning fluid in the goose neck'25 will be conducted to the end of the blower element 10 and will thus flow through the blower element 10 for discharge through the nozzles 13. The telescopic mounting of the portion 27 of the goose neck 25 in the fitting 52 will permit'a movement of the head 12 in the direction of the axis of the element 10, thus allowing the necessary longitudinal movement of the element 10 to align the nozzles 13 with the surfaces to be cleaned.

For moving the head 12 relative-tothe pipe 11 and fitting 52, the horizontally disposed-portion 2'7 of the goose neck 25 may be provided on a portion of its under surface with a longitudinally extending flange 60," this flange being arranged forwardly of the fitting 52 as will be readily apparent by referencetoFigure 1 of the drawing.

Secured to the flange 60 as by the counter sunk screws 61'is a rack 62 adapted to'be driven by a pinion 63 fixed to a shaft 6-1, journaled in the ears 65 carried by the fitting 52. As clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the ears 65 are preferably spaced from the portion 2'7 of the goose neck 25 to provide a clearance 66 to permit nesnzva this sheave wheel being adapted to receive a suitable actuating chain 69, whereby it may be rotated from a point below the fitting 52. For limit ing inward movement of the head 12 relative to the fitting 52, there may be provided a stop 79 formed on the rack 62, this stop being adapted to engage the pinion 63 upon a predeterm ned inward travel of the head 12. For limiting outward movement of the head 12, the bracket'el may be provided with an extension 71 adapted to engage the inner end of the fitting 52 upon a predeterminedoutward movement of the head 12.

From the above, it will be apparent that the head 12 will be connected directly to the fitting 52 to receive cleaning fluid from this fitting. Thus the danger of leakage of cleaning fluid in its passage from the supply pipe 11 to the head 12 will be substantially entirely eliminated, while the head 12 and blower element 10 will be adapted for movement relative to the supply pipe to as at 76 to the boiler wall 16 and provided with it;

the collar or ring 77 adapted to substantially loosely receive the pipe 11. Thus the pipe 11 mounted for floating movement with the head 12 and element 10, but is prevented from movement toward or away from the boiler 15.

In operation the sheave wheel 63 may be rotated to move the head 12 and blower element 10 in the direction of the axis of the latter to align the nozzles 13 with the surfaces to be cleaned. When properly aligned the blower element 10 may be rotated by the sheave wheel 39, pinion 37 and gear 35 to swing the jets of cleaning fluid through the desired arcs. Cleaning fluid from the supply pipe 11 will be conducted directly through the fitting 52 and portionv 2'7 of tages of the disclosed construction will be readily The construction will find particu-' lar utility on a very large boiler Where there are apparent.

a large number of tubes to be cleaned. If an element provided with a nozzle for every tube were provided, the element would be of impractical size and would'not only be extremely expensive, but also substantially impossible to in stall. However, by mounting the blower element for shuttlingmovement, a relatively small unit of standardsize may be em loyed, thus reducing to a considerable extent the expense of installation. Further by utilizing a relatively small ele- .ment having a small number of discharge nozzles air heater.

as the cleaning fluid, the rate of steam consumption will be relatively small, so as notto complicate materially the steaming range of 'the boileror to causean upset in the cycle of the power plant. Thus the construction provides not only for an economical installation of a blower unit but provides also for the maintenance of a high steam pressure resulting in a more efficient cleaning.

While the invention has been disclosed, as embodied in a construction for cleaning a water tube boiler, it will be readily apparent that the construction will find equal utility for cleaning any construction wherein it is desired to utilize jets of cleaning fluid. Thus in' place of the boiler 15, there may be an air heater or the like, the nozzles 13 being then arranged to blow through spaced air or gas passages within the The inventive idea is therefore not to be construed as limited to the precise construction disclosed, the right being reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the pur",

view of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is: n

1, In a soot blower, a blower element having a cleaning fluid discharge nozzle, a head in which said element is journaled, means. mounting said head and element for movement as a unit to move said nozzle from alignment with one surface to be cleaned to alignment with a second surface to be cleaned, a stationary cleaning fluid supply fitting, said head having a telescopic connection with said fitting, and means including a member carried by said fitting and a member carried by said head for moving said head and element relative to said fitting.

2. In a soot blower, a stationary cleaning fluid supply pipe, a fitting carried by said pipe, a'

blower head having a laterally ported portion closed at its end telescopically mounted in said fitting to receive cleaning fluid therefrom, a blower element journaled in said head, said element having a cleaning fluid discharge nozzle, and means'for moving said head and element relative to said fitting to move said nozzle from alignment with one surface to be cleaned into alignment with a second surface to be cleaned,

said means including a rack carried by said head,

and means carried by said fitting engageable with said rack. V V

3. In a soot blower, a stationary cleaning fluid supply pipe, a fitting carried by said pipe, a

blower head having a laterally ported portion closed at its end telescopically'mounted in said fitting to receive cleaning fluid therefrom, a blower element journaled in said head, said element having a cleaning fluid discharge nozzle,

and means for moving said head and element relative to said fitting to move said nozzle from alignment with one surface to be cleaned into alignment with a second surface to be cleaned, said means including rack and pinion members, one of said members being carried by said head and the other of said members being carried by said fitting. I

4. In a soot blower, a stationary cleaning fluid supply pipe, a fitting carried by said pipe, a blower head having a laterally ported portion closed at its end telescopically mounted in .said fitting to receive cleaning fluid therefrom, a. blower element journaled in said head, said element having a cleaning fluid discharge nozzle, and means for moving said head and element relative to said fitting to move said nozzle from alignment with one surface to be" cleaned into alignment with asecond surface to be cleaned, said means including a rack-carried by said head,

ears formed on said fitting, a shaft journaled in i said ears and a pinion on said shaft engageable with said rack. 1 5 i 5. In a soot blower, a cleaning fluid supply fitting, a blower element movable to spaced blowing positions, a blower head including a goose-neck, one end of said blower element being journaled in one end of said goose-neck and the other end of said goose-neck being, closed and being telescopically mounted in said fitting, the portion of said goose-neck which is within said fitting being provided with circumferentially spaced ports for receiving cleaning fluid from said fitting, a rack fixed to said goose-neck adjacent said fitting, and a pinion carried by said fitting engageable with said rack for moving said blower head and said blower element relative to said fitting.

6. In a fluid heater cleaner, a cleaning fluid supply fitting provided with two packed joints at opposite ends thereof, a blower element having a tubular extension extending through saidfitting and slidably received in said packed joints,

said extension havinga laterally opening port intermediate its ends and located at all times between said packed joints, and means for moving said blower element and said extension relative to said fitting to move the blower element to spaced blowing positions comprising two engaging members one of which is fixed to said extension'and the other of which is mounted on said supply fitting.

7. In a soot blower, a cleaning fluid supply fitting, a blower elementhaving a tubular extension extending through said fitting, said exten- I sion being closed at one end and having a laterally opening port intermediate its ends and disposed within said fitting, a rack carried by said disposed within said fitting, a sheave wheel car- 'ried by said fitting, a pinion fixedto said sheave wheel for rotation with the-same, and a rack carried by said extension'and engaged by said pinion whereby said extension and said blower element may be moved as a unit by said rack and pinion to move the blower element to spaced blowing positions. r

9. In a fluid heater cleaner, a cleaning fluid supply fitting, a blower element mounted for rotation and for. shifting movement to spaced blowing positions, said blower element having a tubular extension extending through said fitting, said extension having a closed end and having a laterally opening port adjacent saidclosed end and disposed within said fitting, a rack carried by said extension, means engaging said rack for moving said extension and said blower element -to shiftthe latter to spaced blowing positions,

and means for rotating said blower element relative to said rack.

10. In a soot blower, afcleaning fluid supply fitting, a tubular member having one end closed and extending through said fitting and having a laterally opening port disposed within said fitting, a blower element connected to the other move the blower element to spaced bIowing posi-- end ofsaid tubular member for receiving cleantions, and means for rotating said blower eleing fluidfrom the same, a rack carried by said ment while maintaining the same in each of said tubular; member, means carried by said fitting blowing positions.

member and said blower element as a unit to 5' and engaging said rack for moving said tubular NORMAN L. SNOW.

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